Climate Change Council

The ACT Climate Change Council advises the Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability on matters relating to reducing greenhouse gas emissions as well as building resilience and adapting to climate change. The Council was established by the ACT Government in 2011 under the Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Act 2010.

The Council meets at least four times each year to discuss themed topics in relation to climate change relevant to the current ACT context.

The Council produces an annual report of their activities, including any advice given or recommendations made to the Minister.

In 2017 the Council released Climate Change 2016: a brief science update for the ACT. The global climate is warming rapidly, primarily due to the emission of carbon dioxide from the burning of coal, oil and gas. South-east Australia, including the ACT, has warmed by about 1˚C; extreme bushfire weather has increased; and cool season rainfall has declined. Canberra’s climate is projected to warm further; even harsher fire weather is expected, and droughts are likely to become more intense and last longer.

Engaging with Council members

The Council members are keen to engage the ACT community on climate change matters. If you would like to raise an issue, invite Council members to attend a local event, or alert them to some recent climate change news or research, you can: